Humphrey Appleby

Depends how you define 'pay'. I can't remember the exact figure, but I seem to recall that under the previous deal, the Welsh Government were paying something like GBP 160K per GP. The amount is stated in a Welsh Government response somewhere, although they're refusing to release the figures for the latest 5-year deal on the grounds on 'commercial confidentiality' even though this is public money they're spending. https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-10/ATISN 13379 - internal review .pdf This mentions the previous contract value (GBP 850K over 5 years), although note that it wasn't me who filed the FoI request! But think you'd have to ask whether the GP would be held there without this inducement...

Too big and too expensive one would imagine. Plus it wouldn't have the Welsh Government paying for a GP to be held there.

Usually the biggest winners in any legal dispute are the lawyers, which is why the speedway authorities shouldn't be risking getting sued and having to defend a futile action. There is a precedent with the World Series Cricket case (and possibly others), about the illegality of trying to ban competitors who participate in unsanctioned events. Having rights to work in a particular country is a completely different issue, although until 1 January 2021 it would have course been illegal to prevent other EU citizens from riding. Which other sports have rules and regulations that impact on employment opportunities? Even the points limit in speedway in principle doesn't discriminate against particular individuals.

Think we need to separate the issue of clubs and players. In football, players will usually only be only under contract to one team at a time, so players playing for super league teams won't be off playing for anyone else unlike speedway riders. The closest equivalent was when the cricket authorities tried to ban players who'd signed-up to the 'breakaway' World Series Cricket, and they lost that case on the grounds of restraint-of-trade. So if they're not under exclusive contract to one team in one system at given moment in time, there will be nothing to stop them playing or riding in the other system. As for the clubs, I'd think it's perfectly fine for leagues to insist that member teams exclusively play in their competitions. That's no different to signing a contract to run (say) a MacDonalds franchise and then wanting to turn it into a Burger King... National teams - probably a bit of grey area as they're inherently a 'restraint-of-trade' situation as they're only open to specific nationalities anyway. I suspect the likes of the FA could probably argue they're representatives of member clubs so aren't obliged to pick representatives of non-member clubs, but probably many super league players wouldn't be that bothered about playing in national team competitions anyway. As for motor sport, I hold Motorsport UK licences as both a competitor and official, and have occasionally competed in non-MSUK events, including a 'national championship'. No-one could really care less, and whilst I know that's 4-wheeled sport, a quick look at the ACU Handbook doesn't seem to suggest anything different. Of course, in a professional sport, promotions aren't obliged to contract particular riders, so could effectively ban them from the official leagues. But I suspect it there was known to be blacklist, it would come back to a restraint-of-trade thing.

This is probably more a discussion for the never-ending Brexit thread, but there are bigoted people - largely the older generation it must be said - everywhere. I am part of the 70% and think the Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Malays and Bangladeshis are largely well educated, hard working decent people who make an important contribution to Australia, and I'd say attitudes you're referring to are not as widespread as you perhaps imagine. Australian immigration policy largely also agrees. Bringing this back to the discussion on this thread, if the UK makes more visas available for Australia or even allows complete freedom-of-movement, some people will need to accept that Australia is no longer the Anglo-Saxon country they perhaps still believe. Not that I think there are (m)any Asian speedway riders, so it's perhaps a moot point...

Sorry to disappoint, but they're not all white. Quite aside from the 800k Aborigines (remember them?) who are most definitely not white, there's 1.5 million ethnic Chinese, a million or so ethnic South Asians, and probably another million South-East Asians. All told, probably about 5 million of the population is non-white, and another 2.5 million of non-British or Irish European origin - so around 30% of the Australian population. Would think nearly half the immigrants to Australia in the past few years have come from China, Hong Kong, and South Asia.

In terms of permanent migration, there's probably more Brits headed to Australia than vice versa. But there's probably as much short-term migration the other way which is actually what Australia is concerned about as they fear losing skilled people to the UK, whilst they get unskilled backpackers in return.

25 million Aussies are no more likely to come to the UK than 20 million Romanians, but it was still used as an argument to end freedom of movement. So after all the fuss about 'taking control of the borders', why would the UK allow a free for all from Australia?

I don't what the exact process is for the FIM, but it would really depend on what work needed to be done. After so many years, the requirements will have changed, safety and facilities standards will be more rigorous, and of course Odsal has been significantly modified since the last time speedway was held there. I also don't think it has erm.. any track record in terms of having an air fence with all the necessary fixtures and fittings. So could well imagine a few months given that inspections need to be scheduled. If a track has been recently licensed it could probably be re-licensed pretty quickly because most of the requirements should already be in place and it undoubtedly helps if the licensing authority has an established relationship with the track promoters. I can't really see why Odsal couldn't be re-licensed, although there's a few things in the photos that might an issue, such as lamp columns on the bends that might need (re)moving.

We shall see. Australia is pushing for something along those lines as part of any trade deal, but the UK doesn't want that which is why the trade talks are not going well. After all the fuss about '20 million Romanians coming to the UK', why would the same government want to allow '25 million Australians to come to the UK'? I have to say that I also don't see Australia agreeing to free-for-all from the UK either, even though it's largely irrelevant from a speedway perspective these days.

Odsal doesn't have an FIM track licence, and hasn't for years.

We're not living in the 1960s anymore. The MSA (now Motorsports UK) gave up the fight on this years ago on the grounds of restraint of trade. Both drivers and officials can participate in events not under their control without consequence to their own licensing.

Oh come now... there's suitable roofed stadiums in both of those countries. BSI simply can't leverage enough subsidies to use those venues, so can't make them pay.

A track licence is only applicable to the track where an event is run, and there are all sorts of requirements which will have undoubtedly become more stringent since the last time Bradford held an FIM licence. The track and facilities would also need to pass an inspection. From just a cursory glance, the lighting poles on the bends look like they may be too close to the track these days.

It’s the last year of BSI’s association with the SGP, so aren’t going to be motivated to put their hands in their pockets for the GPs where they’re carrying the financial risk. So it’s pretty obvious why Germany and Cardiff have been cancelled.

BSI were paid by the Welsh Tourist Board to hold the GP in Cardiff. That’s not going to happen in Manchester, Bradford or wherever, combined with far too much cost involved with all the COVID precautions and tests etc... and no guarantee of any crowds.

The SGP doesn't seem to be listed on the Principality Stadium website.

Why couldn't they hold the German GP behind closed doors then?

I'd think speedway would be very happy if it could actually fill its stadiums to 25% capacity.

Sure, but that didn't need a crystal ball.

I think even John Berry would have difficulties promoting the sport today, as even he acknowledged some years ago. He did say that he was fortunate to hit on the right location at the right time (although less so at Doncaster), but the sport still had a bigger profile and fanbase in 1969 compared to now.

British speedway probably has 20,000 - at most 30,000 - regular attendees. The Church of England has about 1 million in England, and something like 85 million worldwide. The Church of England has assets of about 9 billion, so nowhere near one of the richest institutions in the world. It also spends nearly 1 billion per year in running costs, and is heavily reliant on tourism generated by its 'showcase' cathedrals. I don't hold any candle for the CofE or religion in general, but as a social and cultural institution of importance, it ranks way above speedway.

I seem to remember seeing a study of racing drivers that showed their reactions were little or no better than the average person, and driving ability is more down to spatial awareness. Even though accidents amongst the 25 are probably more down to overconfidence and driving too fast, I think there is a significant element of needing to develop spatial awareness on the road which only comes with a few years of driving experience.

Of course, if only speedway had some investigative journalism...

Togliatti does sound that it could be in Italy...